Pesticidal compositions

ABSTRACT

A liquid pesticidal composition, which is substantially free of water, comprising a hydrophobic pesticide or mixture of pesticides dissolved in an organic solvent and comprising as surfactants 
     (1) a butanol-ethoxyate/propoxylate-blockcopolymer having 12-30 mol ethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combination with 
     (2) a branched C 8  -C 18  alcohol ethoxylate having 5-10 mol ethoxylate, and/or 
     (3) a tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate having 8-30 mol ethoxylate, or its phosphate or salt thereof. 
     The compositions include also gels having a viscosity of 500 to 20,000 mPas and comprising additionally a gelling agent.

This appln is a 371 of PCT/EP97/03195 filed Jun. 19, 1997.

The present invention relates to storage stable, liquid, pesticidalcompositions, the preparation of such compositions and a method of usingsuch compositions to combat pests or as plant growth regulators.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates, for example nonylphenol ethoxylates, andalkylbenzene sulfonates and its salts, for example dodecylbenzenesulfonate calcium salt, are commonly used and well known surfactants inwater-emulsifiable pesticidal compositions.

Some of these surfactants are not entirely satisfactory; in particularwith respect to their ecological and toxicological properties.

There is still a need for further water-emulsifiable or water soluble,liquid, homogeneous pesticidal compositions which are storage stable,ecological and toxicological favourable and which have good pesticidalefficacy.

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates, e.g. C₁₀ -C₁₄ alcohol ethoxylates(EP-A-400,585) and tristyrenephenol-ethoxylates (EP-A-102,003) have beenproposed, both in combination with alkylbenzene sulfonates, assurfactants in water-emulsifiable pesticidal compositions. C₁ -C₁₀ Alkylethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymers and tristyrenephenol-ethoxylateshave been disclosed as surfactants in aqueous suspensions(EP-A-261,492).

A novel combination of surfactants for water-emulsifiable orwater-soluble pesticidal compositions has now been found; the novelcompositions are storage stable, easy to apply, ecological andtoxicological favourable and have good pesticidal efficacy.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a water-emulsifiable orwater-soluble, storage stable, liquid, pesticidal composition, which issubstantially free of water, comprising a hydrophobic pesticide ormixture of pesticides dissolved in an organic solvent and comprising assurfactants

(1) a butanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymer having 12-30 molethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combination with

(2) a branched C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate having 5-10 mol ethoxylate,and/or

(3) a tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate having 8-30 mol ethoxylate, or itsphosphate or salt thereof.

Suitable salts with bases are, for example, metal salts, such as alkalimetal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example sodium, potassiumcalcium or magnesium salts, or salts with ammonia or an organic amine,such as morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine, a mono-, di- or tri-loweralkylamine, for example ethyl-, diethyl-, triethyl- ordimethyl-propylamine, or a mono-, di- or tri-hydroxy-lower alkylamine,for example mono-, di- or tri-ethanolamine.

The compositions also include gels having a viscosity of 500 to 20,000mPas and comprising additionally a gelling agent.

The compositions according to the invention are stable for at least 12months at 25° C. They are very well miscible with water, even at higherconcentrations.

The surfactants can be combined, depending for example on the kind ofpesticide and the preferred solvents, as follows:

(1) in combination with (2) and (3); (1) in combination with (2); (1) incombination with (3).

The surfactants mentioned above can be prepared by methods known per se;they are also commercially available.

Preferred are surfactants, wherein

(1) the butanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymer has 20-24 mol,preferably 22 mol ethoxylate, and 30-36 mol, most preferably 34 molpropoxylate;

(2) the branched C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate is isotridecanol ethoxylatehaving 5-10 mol, most preferably 6-8 mol ethoxylate; and

(3) the tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate has 16-18 mol ethoxylate.

The composition of the invention is substantially free of water, i.e.the amount of water is less that 0.5%. Some commercially availablematerials may contain a small amount of water, which, when more thanabout 0.1% can be removed for example in a separator.

In another aspect of the invention the composition is a gel with aviscosity of 500-20,000 mPas; preferably 800 to 10,000 mPas andparticularly 1000-5000 mPas.

The viscosity of the composition can be measured using for example aBROOKFIELD viscosimeter with spindles 1 to 3 at 30 rpm.

In this case the composition additionally has to contain a gellingagent, for example oxypropylated cellulose, precipitated or fused silica(hydrophobizised or non-hydrophobizised), gelatine, polysaccharides,tetramethyl decyne diol, ethoxylated dialkyl phenol, methylated clay,propylene carbonate, hydrogenated castor oil, ethoxylated vegetable oil,sodium benzoate and hexanediol. Preferred gelling agent is oxypropylatedcellulose.

Gels are particularly suitable for pesticides packing into water solublebags or sachets, which quickly dissolve when put into the water.

The organic solvents wherein the pesticide has to be dissolved may bewater-immiscible or water miscible or a mixture thereof.

Suitable water-immiscible solvents in which the pesticides may bedissolved are aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as hexane,cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, mineral oil or kerosin, mixturesor substituted naphthalenes, mixtures of mono- and polyalkylatedaromatics commercially available under the registered trademarksSOLVESSO and SHELLSOL and PETROL SPEZIAL, halogenated hydrocarbons suchas methylene chloride, chloroform and o-dichlorobenzene; phthalates,such as dibutyl phthalate or dioctyl phthalate; ethers and esters, suchas ethylene glycol monomethyl or monoethyl ether, fatty acid esters;lactones such as butyrolactone, ketones, such as cyclohexanone; plantoils such as castor oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and possible methylesters thereof; as well as epoxidised coconut oil or soybean oil.Preferred water-immiscible solvents are aliphatic and aromatichydrocarbons, fatty acid esters (e.g. WITCONOL 2309), dipropyleneglycolmonomethylether (e.g. DOWANOL DPM) and castor oil.

Suitable water-miscible solvents in which the pesticides may bedissolved are alcohols and glycols, such as ethanol, ethylene glycol,strongly polar solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone,tetramethylurea, gamma-butyrolacone,dimethyl sulfoxide,N,N-dimethylacetamid and dimethylformamide; preferred areN-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and gamma-butyrolacone.

Suitable pesticides are those which are substantially insoluble in water(hydrophobic), but soluble in the organic solvent.

The term pesticide is understood to encompass herbicides, insecticides,acaricides, nematicides, ectoparasiticides, fungicides and plant growthregulators.

With respect to their chemical constitution, these pesticides may belongto a very wide range of compound classes. Examples of compound classesto which the suitable pesticide may belong are: acylalanines,haloacetanilides, triazole derivatives, phosphoric acid esters,pyrethroids, benzilic acid esters, polycyclic halogenated hydrocarbons,diphenyl ether derivates, formamidines, strobilurines,aryloxyphenoxy-alkanoic acid derivatives. Examples of suitableindividual compounds of the above mentioned compound classes are listedbelow. Where known, the common name is used to designate the individualcompounds (q.v. the Pesticide Manual, 10th edition, 1994, British CropProtection Council).

Haloacetanilides: Dimethachlor, Metolachlor, Pretilachlor,2-chloro-N-(1-methyl-2-methoxyethyl)-acet-2,6-xylidide, Alachlor,Butachlor, Propachlor, Dimethenamid.

Diphenyl ether derivates: Bifenox, 4-(4-Pentyn-1-yloxy)diphenylether,Acifluorfen, Oxyfluorfen, Fluoroglycofen-ethyl, Fomesafen,cis-trans-(±)2-ethyl-5-(4-phenoxy-phenoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolane("diofenolan").

Phenoxypropionic acid derivatives: Fluazifop-butyl, Haloxyfop-methyl,Haloxyfop-(2-ethoxyethyl), Fluorotopic, Fenoxapropethyl,Quizalofop-ethyl, Propaquizafop, Diclofop-methyl.

Acylalanines: Furalaxyl, Metalaxyl, R- Metalaxyl, Benzoylprop ethyl,Benalaxyl, Oxadixyl, Flamprop methyl.

Triazole derivatives: Difenoconazole, Etaconazol, Propiconazole,Penconazole, Triadimefon, Epoxiconazole, Tebuconazole, Bromuconazole,Fenbuconazole, Cyproconazole.

Phosphoric acid esters: Piperophos, Anilofos, Butamifos, Azamethiphos,Chlorfenvinphos, Dichlorvos, Diazinon, Methidathion, Azinphos ethyl,Azinphos methyl, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorthiofos, Crotoxyphos, Cyanophos,Demeton, Dialifos, Dimethoate, Disulfoton, Etrimfos, Famphur,Flusulfothion, Fluthion, Fonofos, Formothion, Heptenophos, lsofenphos,Isoxathion, Malathion, Mephospholan, Mevinphos, Naled, Oxydemetonmethyl, Oxydeprofos, Parathion, Phoxim, Pyrimiphos methyl, Profenofos,Propaphos, Propetamphos, Prothiophos, Quinalphos, Sulprofos, Phemephos,Terbufos, Triazophos, Trichloronate, Fenamipos, Isazophos,s-benzyl-o,o-diisopropylphosphorothioate, Edinphos, Pyrazophos.

Pyrethroids: Allethrin, Bioallethrin, Bioresmethrin, Cyhalotrin,Cypermethrin, α-Cypermethrin, φ-Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin,Fenpropathrin, Fenvalerate, s-Fenvalerate, Flucythrinate, Fluvalinate,Permethrin, Pyrethrine, Resmethrin, Tetramethrin, Tralomethrin,Ethophenprox, Cyfluthrin, Cycloprothrin, Tefluthrin, Flufenprox,Silafluofen, Bifenthrin, Fenfluthrin, Bromfenprox.

Benzilic acid esters: Brompropylate, Chlorbenzylate, Chlorpropylate.

Polycyclic haloaenated hydrocarbons: Aldrin, Endosulfan.

Strobilurines: Kresoxim-methyl, Azoxystrobin (BAS 490F),Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethylideneaminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-aceticacid methyl ester.

Miscellaneous: Tridemorph, Bromoxynil, Carboxin, Prochloraz, Propargite,Dicamba, Fenpiclonil, Fenpropimorph, Fenpropidin, Fludioxonil,Pymetrozine, Pyrifenox, Pyriproxyfen, Trinexapac-ethyl, Fluazinam.

Preferred pesticides are

herbicides, as Propaquizafop, Piperophos and Propanil;

fungicides, as Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethylideneaminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid methyl ester,Propiconazole, Cyproconazole, Fluazinam, Metalaxyl or R-Metalaxyl(enantiomer of Metalaxyl), or a mixture thereof;

insecticides, as Diazinon;

plant growth regulators, as Trinexapac-ethyl.

Suitable concentrations in relation to the composition are (% weight pervolume of the total composition; 1000 g per liter correspond to 100%)

a) of the hydrophobic pesticide or mixture of pesticides: 1 to 99%,preferably 10 to 90% and 20 to 50%;

b) of the organic solvent: 1 to 96%, preferably 10 to 80% and 20 to 70%;

c) of the surfactants: 3 to 80%, preferably 10 to 40% and 20 to 30%;wherein of

surfactant (1): 2 to 25%, preferably 5 to 20%,

surfactant (2): 2 to 40%, preferably 5 to 25%,

surfactant (3): 2 to 20%, preferably 5 to 15%;

d) of the gelling agent: 0.1 to 10 % preferably 0.5 to 5%.

It may be advantageous to add additionally an alkylbenzene sulfonate orits salt, preferably dodecylbenzene sulfonate calcium salt in an amountof 1 to 10%, preferably 2 to 4 % by weight in relation to the volume ofthe composition.

It may be advantageous to combine the pesticide or mixture of pesticideswith a safener.

Another object of the invention is a process for preparing a liquidpesticidal composition as herein described, by intimateley mixing,optionally by warming, until a homogeneous phase is achieved.

In another aspect of the invention the composition is an aqueous spraymixture.

Before the application, the composition of the invention may be dilutedwith water by simple mixing at ambient temperature in order to get aready for use spray mixture.

This spray mixture may be an aqueous emulsion or a solution or asuspension, depending on the kind of composition.

The resulting spray mixtures are stable, i.e. they remain as ahomogeneously emulsified phase, as a solution or as a homogeneouslydistributed suspension on standing without agitation for at least onehour to 12 hours or even more.

Preferred concentrations of the spray mixture are 0.1 to 5 %, morepreferred 0.5 to 2% pesticide in relation to the spray mixture.

Further aspects of the invention include a method of preventing orcombatting infestation of plants or animals by pests and regulatingplant growth by diluting the composition with water and applying apesticidally effective amount to the plant, animal or locus as desired.

PREPARATION EXAMPLES

The following Examples illustrate the invention in more detail. Theregistered trademarks and other designations denote the followingproducts:

    ______________________________________                                        (1) WITCONOL NS 500 K ® (WITCO)                                                                   Copolymer of butanol-34                                                       PO/22 EO,                                             (2) GENAPOL X-080 ® (HOECHST)                                                                     Isotridecanol-8 EO                                        GENAPOL X-060 ® (HOECHST)                                                                     Isotridecanol-6 EO                                    (3) SPROPHOR BSU ® (RHONE-P)                                                                      Tristyrenephenole-16 EO                                   SOPROPHOR 3D33 ® (RHONE-P)                                                                    Tristyrenephenol-poly-EO-                                                     phosphate                                             ______________________________________                                         WITCONOL 2309 ® Fatty acid methylester                                    EMULSOGEN EL ® castor oil36 EO                                            SPEZIAL 200 ® Mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons                            KLUCEL M ® Oxypropylated cellulose (gelling agent)                        DOWANOL DPM ® Dipropyleneglcyol monomethylether (mixture of isomers)      EO = ethyleneoxid                                                             PO = propyleneoxid                                                       

% in weight per volume of the total composition (i.e.1000 g per litercorrespond to 100%). The components are intimateley mixed, optionally bywarming, until a homogeneous phase is achieved.

Example 1

    ______________________________________                                        %         component         type                                              ______________________________________                                        10.0      Propaquizafop     herbicide                                         5.0       WITCONOL NS 500 K ®                                                                         surfactant (1)                                    35.0      GENAPOL X-060 ®                                                                             surfactant (2)                                    10.0      1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone                                                                          solvent                                           40.0      PETROL SPEZIAL 200                                                                              solvent                                           ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.02 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

Example 2

    ______________________________________                                        %       component            type                                             ______________________________________                                        14.5    Piperophos           herbicide                                        25.0    Propanil             herbicide                                        8.0     WITCONOL NS 500 K ®                                                                            surfactant (1)                                   12.0    GENAPOL X-060 ®  surfactant (2)                                   40.5    Dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether                                                                 solvent                                          ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.065 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 3

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        17.4 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             12.3 Propiconazole             fungicide                                      11.7 WITCONOL NS 500 K ®   surfactant (1)                                 11.7 SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 46.9 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.11 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

Example 4

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        12.1 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             11.7 WITCONOL NS 500 K ®   surfactant (1)                                 9.3  SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 2.3  SOPROPHOR 3D33 ®      surfactant (3)                                 64.6 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.07 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

Example 5

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        11.8 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             12.5 Propiconazole             fungicide                                      11.4 WITCONOL NS 500 K ®   surfactant (1)                                 11.4 SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 52.9 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.095 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 6

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        19.0 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             12.5 Propiconazole             fungicide                                      13.0 WITCONOL NS 500 K ®   surfactant (1)                                 10.0 SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 3.0  SOPROPHOR 3D33 ®      surfactant (3)                                 42.5 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.1 g/cm.sup.3                                                  

Example 7

    ______________________________________                                        %         component         type                                              ______________________________________                                        23.3      Cyproconazole     fungicide                                         10.0      WITCONOL NS 500 K ®                                                                         surfactant (1)                                    10.0      SOPROPHOR 3D33 ®                                                                            surfactant (3)                                    23.0      1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone                                                                          solvent                                           33.7      SOLVESSO 200      solvent                                           ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.073 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 8

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        12.5 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             12.5 WITCONOL NS 500 K ®   surfactant (1)                                 10.0 SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 2.5  SOPROPHOR 3D33 ®      surfactant (3)                                 62.5 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.07 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

Example 9

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        18.5 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             8.0  Cyproconazole             fungicide                                      10.0 WITCONOL NS 500 K         surfactant (1)                                 5.0  GENAPOL X-080 ®       surfactant (2)                                 5.0  SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 53.5 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.09 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

Example 10

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        15.0 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             7.0  R-Metalaxyl               fungicide                                      12.5 WITCONOL NS 500 K         surfactant (1)                                 12.5 SOPROPHOR BSU ®       surfactant (3)                                 53.0 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.081 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 11

    ______________________________________                                        %    component                 type                                           ______________________________________                                        12.5 Methoxyimino-{2-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-                                                          fungicide                                           ethylidene-aminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-acetic acid                                methyl ester                                                             7.5  R-Metalaxyl               fungicide                                      3.0  WITCONOL NS 500 K         surfactant (1)                                 3.0  GENAPOL X-080 ®       surfactant (2)                                 45.5 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone    solvent                                        27.5 Aromatic solvent 230      solvent                                        ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.081 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 12

    ______________________________________                                        %       component            type                                             ______________________________________                                        9.3     R-Metalaxyl          fungicide                                        4.0     WITCONOL NS 500 K    surfactant (1)                                   16.0    GENAPOL X-080 ®  surfactant (2)                                   5.0     Gamma-Butyrolactone  solvent                                          27.0    Fatty acid methyl ester Me C 6-10                                                                  solvent                                          ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.035 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 13

    ______________________________________                                        %       component            type                                             ______________________________________                                        17.7    R-Metalaxyl          fungicide                                        26.0 g  Fluazinam            fungicide                                         5.0    WITCONOL NS 500 K    surfactant (1)                                    5.0    GENAPOL X-060 ®  surfactant (2)                                    5.0    SOPROPHOR BSU ®  surfactant (3)                                   16.0    PETROL SPEZIAL 200 ®                                                                           solvent                                          25.3    Gamma-Butyrolactone  solvent                                          ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.184 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 14

    ______________________________________                                        %       component            type                                             ______________________________________                                        59.6    Diazinon             insecticide                                      8.0     WITCONOL NS 500 K ®                                                                            surfactant (1)                                   8.0     SOPROPHOR BSU ®  surfactant (3)                                   24.4    SOLVESSO 150         solvent                                          ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.073 g/cm.sup.3                                                

Example 15

    ______________________________________                                        %        component       type                                                 ______________________________________                                        26       Trinexapac-ethyl                                                                              plant growth regulator                               21.0     WITCONOL NS 500 K                                                                             surfactant (1)                                       7.0      GENAPOL X-060 ®                                                                           surfactant (2)                                       0.8      KLUCEL M ®  gelling agent                                        45.2     DOWANOL DPM ®                                                                             solvent                                              ______________________________________                                         Density: 1.027 g/cm.sup.3 ; Viscosity; ca. 2700 mPas (Spindle 3/30 rpm)  

Example 16

    ______________________________________                                        %        component       type                                                 ______________________________________                                        26.3     Trinexapac-ethyl                                                                              plant growth regulator                               21.4     WITCONOL NS 500 K                                                                             surfactant (1)                                       7.1      GENAPOL X-060 ®                                                                           surfactant (2)                                       45.2     WITCONOL 2309 ®                                                                           solvent                                              ______________________________________                                         Density: 0.98 g/cm.sup.3                                                 

All the compositions according to the examples are stable for at least12 months at 25° C.

After diluting with water the compositions form an emulsion or,depending on the pesticide, solvent and concentration, a clear solution.Both the emulsions and solutions are stable without agitation for atleast one to 12 hours or even more.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid pesticidal composition comprising ahydrophobic pesticide or mixture of pesticides dissolved in an organicsolvent together with surfactants, which composition is substantiallyfree of water and comprising as said surfactants(1) abutanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate blockcopolymer having 12-30 molethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combination with (2) a branchedC₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate having 5-10 mol ethoxylate, and/or (3) atristyrenephenol-ethoxylate having 8-30 mol ethoxylate, or its phosphateor salt thereof;wherein said organic solvent is water-immiscible andselected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatichydrocarbons, phthalates, ethers and esters, fatty acid esters,lactones, ketones, castor oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and possiblemethyl esters thereof, and epoxidised coconut or soybean oil or whereinsaid organic solvent is water miscible and selected from the groupconsisting of alcohols, glycols N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetramethylurea,gamma-butyrolactone, dimethylsuloxide N,N-dimethylacetamid, anddimethylformamide; whereby a storage stable composition is obtained. 2.A composition according to claim 1, wherein thebutanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymer (1) has 20-24 molethoxylate, and 30-36 mol propoxylate.
 3. A composition according toclaim 1, wherein the branched C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate (2) isisotridecanol ethoxylate having 5-10 mol ethoxylate.
 4. A compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate (3) has16-18 mol ethoxylate.
 5. A composition according to claim 1 having aviscosity of 800 to 10,000 mPas.
 6. A composition according to claim 5,wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting ofoxypropylated cellulose, precipitated or fused silica gelatine,polysaccharides, tetramethyl decyne diol, ethoxylated dialkyl phenol,methylated clay, propylene carbonate, hydrogenated castor oil,ethoxylated vegetable oil, sodium benzoate and hexanediol.
 7. Acomposition according to claim 6, wherein the gelling agent isoxypropylated cellulose.
 8. A composition according to claim 1, whereinthe surfactants are(1) a butanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymerhaving 12-30 mol ethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combinationwith (2) a branched C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate having 5-10 molethoxylate.
 9. A composition according to claim 1, wherein thesurfactants are(1) a butanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymerhaving 12-30 mol ethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combinationwith (3) a tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate having 8-30 mol ethoxylate, orits phosphate or salt thereof.
 10. A composition according to claim 1,wherein the organic solvent is selected from aliphatic and aromatichydrocarbons, fatty acid esters, dipropyleneglycol monomethylether andcastor oil.
 11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the organicsolvent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or gamma-butyrolacone or a mixturethereof.
 12. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the pesticideis a herbicide.
 13. A composition according to claim 1, wherein thepesticide is a fungicide.
 14. A composition according to claim 1,wherein the pesticide is an insecticide.
 15. A composition according toclaim 1, wherein the pesticide is a plant growth regulator.
 16. Acomposition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of thepesticide or mixture of pesticides is 1 to 99% by weight in relation tothe volume of the composition.
 17. A composition according to claim 16,wherein the concentration of the pesticide or mixture of pesticides is10 to 90% in relation to the volume of the composition.
 18. Acomposition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of theorganic solvent is 1 to 96% by weight in relation to the volume of thecomposition.
 19. A composition according to claim 18, wherein theconcentration of the organic solvent is 10 to 80% by weight in relationto the volume of the composition.
 20. A composition according to claim1, wherein the concentration of the surfactants (1), (2) and/or (3) is 3to 80% by weight in relation to the volume of the composition.
 21. Acomposition according to claim 20, wherein the concentration of thesurfactants is 10 to 40% by weight in relation to the volume of thecomposition.
 22. A process for preparing a liquid pesticidal compositionaccording to claim 1 by intimately mixing, optionally by warming, saidpesticide, said organic solvent, and said surfactants until ahomogeneous phase is obtained.
 23. An aqueous microemulsion or solutionprepared by mixing the composition according to claim 1 with water. 24.A method of preventing or combatting infestation of plants or animals bypests by diluting the composition according to claim 1 with water andapplying a pesticidally effective amount to the plant, animal or locus.25. The composition of claim 2 wherein saidbutanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate-blockcopolymer (1) has 22 mol ethoxylateand 34 mol propoxylate.
 26. The composition of claim 3 wherein thebranched C₈ -C₁₈ alcoholethoxylate is isotridecanol ethoxylate having6-8 mol ethoxylate.
 27. The composition of claim 5 having a viscosity of1000-5000 mPas.
 28. The composition of claim 12 wherein said pesticideis a herbicide and is selected from the group consisting ofPropaquizafop, Piperaphos, and Propanil.
 29. The composition of claim 13wherein said pesticide is a fungicide and is selected from the groupconsisting ofmethoxyimino-{2-[-(-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethylideneaminooxymethyl]-phenyl}acetic acid methyl ester, Propiconazole, Cyproconazole, fluazinam,Metalaxyl or R-Metalaxyl, and mixtures thereof.
 30. The composition ofclaim 14 wherein said pesticide is Diazinon.
 31. The composition ofclaim 15 wherein said pesticide is Trinexapac-ethyl.
 32. The compositionof claim 17 wherein said pesticide is present in said composition at aconcentration of 20 to 50% in relation to the volume of the composition.33. The composition of claim 19 wherein said organic solvent is presentin said composition at a concentration of 20 to 70% in relation to thevolume of the composition.
 34. The composition of claim 21 wherein saidsurfactants are present in said composition at a concentration of 20 to30% in relation to the volume of the composition.
 35. The method ofclaim 24 which further regulates plant growth wherein said pesticide isa plant growth regulator and said composition is applied to said plantor locus.
 36. A liquid pesticidal composition, which is substantiallyfree of water, comprising a hydrophobic pesticide or mixture ofpesticides dissolved in an organic solvent and comprising assurfactants(1) a butanol-ethoxylate/propoxylate blockcopolymer having12-30 mol ethoxylate and 16-48 mol propoxylate, in combination with (2)a branched C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol ethoxylate having 5-10 mol ethoxylate, and/or(3) a tristyrenephenol-ethoxylate having 8-30 mol ethoxylate, or itsphosphate or salt thereof;said composition further comprising a gellingagent, and wherein said composition is in the form of a gel and has aviscosity of 500 to 20,000 mPas.
 37. A composition according to claim36, wherein the concentration of the gelling agent is 0.1 to 10% byweight in relation to the volume of the composition.
 38. The compositionof claim 37 wherein said gelling agent is present in said composition ata concentration of 0.5 to 5% in relation to the volume of thecomposition.